Art of making hexagonal nut-blanks



J. A. COSTELLO. ART OF MAKING HEXAGONAL NUT BLANKS.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN; 29. 1 920. 1,365,092. 1 Patented Jan. 11,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

jflvenfor. 4W 126M115 1. A. COSTELLO. ART OF MAKING HEXAGONAL NUT BLANKS;

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, I920. 1,365,092. Patented Jan.i11, 1921.

2 SHETSSHEEI 2.

am \Y////// UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. COSTELLO, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ART OF MAKING HEXAGONAL NUT-BLANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Application filed January 29, 1920. Serial No. 354,959.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. JosEPH A. CosTELLo. a citizen of the Ynited States. and residing at Cleveland. in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio. have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Art of Making and facilitate the manufacture and to reduce the cost of forged or hot-pressed tubular hexagonal nut-blanks ready for being screw-threaded internally to form finished hexagonal nuts.

Another object is to so improve the contour of the hexagonal hot metal piece which is to be operated on to form a hexagonal nut-blank as to minimize the wear on the tools or apparatus employed in carrying out my improved process and as to effect such an improved distribution of-metal displaced during the required operations on the hot piece that uniformly sharp corners on the resulting hexagonal nut-blank are obtained and that said blank measures the same in diameter between any two diametrically opposite corners of said blank at any point be tween the end faces of the blank.

Vith these objects in view. and to attain any other object hereinafter appearing. this invention consists in the improved steps or process hereinafter described in this specification and pointed out in the claims.

Apparatus suitable for use in carrying out my improved process is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side view and an end view of a hexagonal hot metal piece. and Figs. 3. 6. 8. 9. 10. 11 and 12 are side elevations largely in central section of said apparatus. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line -1l. Fig. 3. looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5. Fig. 3. looking outwardly. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 7-7. Fig. 6. looking in the direction a stationary die provided interiorly with a bore a which is hexagonal in cross-section. Said bore extends endwise of and through the die and is adapted to receive a hexagonal hotmetal piece B which is to be pressed or forged into a hexagonal nutblank having the external shape and dimensions of a finished hexagonal nut. The bore a therefore forms a chamber which is hexagonal in cross-section. as shown in Figs. -.t and 7 to receive the hot piece B. The die is rendered stationary in any approved manner. I

An important feature in carrying out my improved process is the formation or production of a hot piece B which. for the pur pose hereinafter appearing. has its sides 15.

as shown in Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 6. sloping substantially correspondingly toward one end face of said piece preferably from the other end face of said piece. Preferably the hexagonal hot piece B is only uniform in diameter from end to end of said piece at two diametrically opposite corners 16 (see Fig. 2) for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

An endwise movable plunger, which comprises a tubular member C and a solid 'member D arranged within and longitudinally of said tubular and outer member. is employed in introducing the tapering hot piece B into the die. and said piece is shown smaller transversely at its larger end face than the bore or die-chamber a to enable the larger end of said piece to easily enter said chamber. In Fig. 3 the members C and D of the plunger are shown flush at their forward end faces. and the hot piece B is shown entering the die-chamber a. Said plunger-members are movable endwise together or independently of each other. .The outer plunger-member C conforms in end elevation, as shown in Fig. 5, to the internal contour of the die in crosssection. The inner plunger-member D is circular in end view, as shown in Fig. 5. and has its forward end portion enough smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the outer plunger-member C to form an annular space 17 surrounding said inner plunger-member has a conoidalforward end 18 which corresponds in dimensions to the bore to be formed in the hot piece B by said end of said plunger-member. The hot piece is fed into and endwise of the die from one end of the bore or chamber a, as already hereinbefore indicated, and an endwise movable blank-ejector E extends in any position thereof into the die' from the opposite end of said bore or chamber and is spaced in'its rearward position, shown in Figs. 3, 6,8, 9, 10 and 11, far enough from the forward end of the die to permit the hot piece, which is to be operated'onwithin the die, to be inserted into the die by the plunger and to permit operations on said piece by the plunger-members C and The hot piece B is inserted into the die with its larger end face in advance.

The ejector E. conforms in cross-section, as

.shown in Fig. 4, to the internal contour of the die in cross-section, and a punch G is arranged centrally and longitudinally of the ejector. The ejector is therefore tubular, and said ejector and the punch a-reshiftable endwise independently of each other. In their rearward position, shown in Figs. 3, 6, 8,9 and 10, the'punch and fss . the central portion of the ejector are flush at their forward end faces. The outer pluIrger-member D and the ejector E are-arranged in line endwise and'correspond in internal diameter. The inner plungermember D and the punch G are arranged in line \endwise, and said punch is small enoughin diameter to render it capable of entering the outer plunger-member C. The ejector is provided at its face with six pro ections e arranged at the different corners respectively of the bore or chamber a and,

piece is fed into the die-chamber a and toward the ejector and with its larger end face leading. Fig. 6 shows the hot piece as having been fed by the plunger into contact with and somewhat pressed against the projections e of the ejector while the ejector and the punch are held in their rearward position. The ejector, being stationary while the hot piece is pressed at its larger end face against the projections e, obviously exerts pressure at said projections against the hot piece at the outer circumference of said face, so as to insure an accurate center ing of the hot piece in relation to the bore or chamber a and in relation to the inner plunger-member D. I would here remark however that the uniformity in the diameter of the tapering hot piece from end' to end of the piece at two diametricall opposite corners of the piece is helpful in accurately centering the piece in relation to the die-chamber a in which said piece is operated on.

Upon centering the hot piece as shown in Fig. 6, the forward movement of the outer plunger-member C is arrested, whereupon and while the outer plunger-member is held stationary in any approved manner the inner plunger-member D is actuated forwardly independently of the outer plungermember and presses the hot piece against the ejector and against the punch and moves into the hot piece to a point about or somewhat more than. half way between the end faces of said piece, as shown in Fig. 8, so

- that pressure is exerted by the inner plunger-member D, during the forward movement of said inner plunger-member independently of the outer plunger-member, against the central portion of the adjacent and smaller end face of the hot piece while the ejector and the brush remain stationary and exert pressure against substantially the whole of the other and larger end face of said piece, so as to effect the formation of a bore 6 which extends from the originally smaller end face of the hot piece into and endwise of said piece a suitable distance in the direction of the originally larger end face of but not through said piece. It will be observed thereforethat during the for- -ward movement of the inner plunger-member D pressure is exerted against only the central portion of thesmaller end face of said piece while supporting the other and larger end face of said piece, and'that during the formation of the bore 6 metal is displaced from said piece toward the sides or outer circumference of said piece and, also. there'is a displacement of metal, as at 13.

Fig. 8, from the outer portion of the hot piece toward and in front of the outer plunger-member C. Upon the formation of the bore 6 the outer plunger-member C, while theinner plunger-member D and the ejector E and the punch G are held stationary in the position shown in Fig. 9 and while said inner plunger-memberis affording support to the walls of said bore, is advanced independently of said inner plungermember from its position shown in Fig. 8 into the position shown in Fig. 9,-that is.

such a distance as to cause the displaced metal 13 to be forced in the direction of the ejector and toward the sidesor outer circumference of the hot piece. While the displaced metal 13 at the originally smaller end face of the hot piece is forced by the outer plunger-member C in the direction of the ejector and toward the sides or outer circumference of said piece the whole of the other and originally larger end face of the hot piece is supported by the punch and the ejector so as to effect the exertion of pressure by the ejector and the punch against the whole of the lastmentioned face during the pressing operation of said plunger-member. I have found that the exertion of pressure against the hot piece by a moving object such. for instance. as the inwardly moving outer plunger-member C. results in a greater displacement of metal at the sides or outer circumference of said piece than the exertion of pressure against said piece by a relatively stationary member such. for instance. as the ejector. and that therefore the displacement of metal at the sides or outer circumference of the hot piece is greater next said plunger-member than next the ejector during the exertion of pressure against said piece simultaneously by said ejector and by said plunger-member. It will be observed therefore that as the diechamber a is uniform in diameter from end to end and as the hot piece to be operated on in the die tapers in the direction of the plunger. the space between each sloping side 15 of the hot piece and the die gradually increases in size in the direction of the outer plunger-member and that the hot piece is so inclosed circumferentially and longitudinally while being operated on as to permit a gradually increasing displacement of metal. and consequent gradual thickening of the hot piece. in said direction and render the diametrical measurement of the inclosed hot piece substantially uniform from end to end at any of the diametrically opposite corners of the said piece without undue wear on the apparatus. Also. a hot piece having sloping sides spaced from the die inclosing said piece as hereinbefore described offers less resistance to and consequently facilitates the entrance of the conoidal terminal end of the inner plunger-member into the hot piece during the formation of the bore .7; in said piece. It will be observed therefore that by operating. as hereinbefore described. on a hot piece having sloping sides 15 undue tightening of said piece in the die and shrinkage and consequent undue tightening of said piece onto the inner plungermember D. during the exertion of pressure against the ends of said piece simultaneously by the outer plunger-member and by the ejector and the punch. are successfully prevented. and that by my improved process is attained an economical production of perfect hexagonal forged nut-blanks which have sharp corners and substantially correspond in diameter at any diametrically opposite corners thereof.

of course the outer plunger-member C. upon pressing the hot piece by and between said plunger-member and the ejector E as shown in Fig. 9. is withdrawn from the hot piece as shown in Fig. 10 but not far enough to remove said plunger-member from the die. and the inner plunger-member D is withdrawn from said piece into the outer plunger-member C a suitable distance beyond the face of said outer plunger-member. as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. so as to remove pressure from the end faces of the hot piece. Then the punch G. while the ejector and the outer plunger-member are held stationary. is advanced and thereby feeds the hot piece away from the ejector antl into contact with the outer plunger-member as shown in Fig. 11. 'hile the ejector is held stationary and spaced from the hot piece and while said piece held by the outer plunger-member against movement farther from the ejectorthe punch is advanced far enough. as shown in Fig. 11. to force the metal l-l from between the inner end of the bore 1) and the punch in the direction of the inner plunger-member D and thereby separate said metal from the remainder of the hot piece and remove said metal through said bore and into the outer plunger-member-C in front of the inner plunger-member D. as shown in Fig. 11. while the crowned end face of the resulting tubular blank is unsupported circumferentially of said hole. After the metal ll has been punched from the hot piece and delivered into the outer plunger-member C said plunger-member is withdrawn far enough from the die to permit the ejector to advance and discharge the nut-blank from the die. as shown in Fig. 12. and the inner plunger-member is advanced. independently of the outer plunger-member. the distance required to eifect the discharge from said outer plunger-member of the metal 1% previously delivered into said outer plunger-member. After insuring the positive removal of the nut-blank and the piece of metal ll from between the ejector and the inner plunger-member in any approved manner the ejector and the punch are returned into their rearward position and the two plunger-members are positioned as required to feed another hot metal piece into the die. I would remark however that the punch G is larger in diameter than the hotpiece-entering portion of the inner-plnngermember so as to insure the punching of a clean and perfect hole which is somewhat larger in diameter than the outer and diametrically larger end of the bore 1). and that the peculiar form shown in Figs. 11 and 12. of the piece of metal 11L cut from the hot piece by the punch is partially the result of said punching of a hole which is larger diametrically than said bore.'

'hat I claim is 1. In the art of making forged or hotpressed nut-blanks, an improvement consisting in forming a hexagonal hot metal piece which tapers toward one end face of the piece, then so inclosing the hot piece circumferentially and longitudinally as to per I mit such a displacement of metal as will thicken the hot piece in the direction of said face and exerting pressure against only the central portion of said face while supporting the other and largerend face of the hot piece and thereby forming a bore extending endwise of said piece from the first-mentioned face, then exerting pressure against the outer portion of said first-mentioned face while supporting thesurrounding wall of said bore and While supporting the other end face of the hot piece, and then separating the metal between the inner end of said bore and the last-mentioned face from the remainder of said piece.

2. In the art of making forged or hotpressed nut-blanks, an improvement consisting in forming a hexagonal hot metal piece which tapers toward one end face of said piece from the other end face of said piece, then so inclosing the hot piece circumferentially and longitudinally as to permit such a displacement of'metal as will thicken the hot piece gradually in the direction of the first-mentioned face, and exerting pressure against only the central portion of said firstmentioned and smaller face while supporting the second-mentioned and larger face "and thereby forming a bore extending endwise of said piece from the first-mentioned face, then exerting pressure against the outer portion of said first-mentioned face while supporting the walls of said bore and while supporting the second-mentioned face, and then separating the metal between the inner end of said bore and said second-mentioned face from the remainder of the hot piece.

3. In the art of making forged or hotpressed nut-blanks, an improvement consisting in forming a hexagonal hot metal piece which tapers toward one end face of said piece and is substantially uniform in diameter from end to end at only two diametrically opposite corners of said piece, then so inclosing the hot piece circumferentially and longitudinally as will permitthe displacement of metal at the sides of said piece to increase in the direction of said face and ex?- erting pressure against only the central portion of said face while supporting the other end face of the hot piece and thereby forming a bore extending endwise' of said piece from the first-mentioned face, then exerting pressure against the outer portion of said first-mentioned face while supporting the walls of said bore and while supporting the other end face of the hot piece, and then 4. In the art of making forged or hotpressed nut-blanks, an improvement consisting in forming a hexagonal hot metal piece which tapers toward one end face of said piece and has substantially correspondingly sloping sides, then so inclosing the hot piece circumferentially and longitudinally as to permit such a displacement of metal as will render the diametrical measurement of the inclosed hot piece substantially uniform from end to end at any diametrically opposite corners of said piece and exerting pressure against only the central portion of the aforesaid face While supporting the larger end face of said pieceand thereby forming a bore extending endwise of said piece from the first-mentioned face, then exerting pressure against the outer portion of said firstmentioned face while supporting the surrounding wall of said bore and while sup porting the other end face of the hot-piece, and then separating the metal between the inner end of said bore and the last-mentioned face from the remainder of said piece.

5. In the art of making forged or hotpressed nut-blanks, an improvement consisting in producing a hexagonal hot metal piece which tapers toward one end face of said piece and has all of its sides sloping substantially correspondingly and has said face larger in diameter at two diametrically opposite corners thereof than at any other diametrically opposite corners of said face, then so inclosing the hot piece circumferentially and longitudinally as to'permit such a displacement of metal as will render the diametrical measurement of the in-- closed hot piece at any diametrically opposite corners of the piece substantially uniform from end to end, and exerting pressure against only the central portion of the afore' said face While supporting the larger end face of the hot piece and thereby forming a bore in said piece, then exerting pressure against the outer'portion of said first-mentioned face while supporting the walls of said bore and while supporting the other end-face of the hot piece, and then separating the metal between the inner end of said bore and the last-mentioned face from the remainder of said piece.

6. In the art of making forged or hotpressed nut-blanks, an improvement con. sisting in forming a hexagonal hot metal piece which tapers toward one end face of said piece and has all of its sides sloping substantially correspondingly, then inserting the hot piece endwise into a die-chamber which is hexagonal in cross-section and uniform in diameter from end to end of its por tion which is employed in inclosing said piece, and centering said piece in relation to said chamber, then exerting pressure against only the central portion of the aforesaid face while supporting the larger end face of the hot piece and thereby forming a bore extending endwise of said piece from the first-mentioned face, then exerting pressure against the outer portion of said first-mentioned face while supporting the surrounding wall of said bore and while supporting the other end face of the hot piece, and then separating the metal between the inner end of said bore and the last-mentioned face from the remainder of said piece.

T. In the art of making forged or hotpressed nut-blanks, an improvement consisting in producing a hexagonal hot metal piece which tapers toward one end face of said piece and measures more in diameter at two diametrically opposite corners of said face than at any other diametrically opposite corners of said face, then inserting the hot piece endwise into a die-chamber which is hexagonal in cross-section and uniform in diameter from end to end of its portion which is employed in inclosing said piece,

and exerting pressure against the larger end of the hot piece while supporting the larger end face of said piece and thereby forming a bore extending endwise of said piece from the first-mentioned face, then exertingpressure against the outer portion of said firstmentioned face whilesupporting the walls of said bore and while supporting the other end face of the hot piece, and then separating the metal between the inner end of said bore and the last-mentioned face from the remainder of said piece.

In testimony whereof, I sign the fore going specification, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. COSTELLO.

itnesses:

BASIL F. JOHNSON, R. H. BENDEB. 

